Gutterati Productions’ Ghode Ko Jalebi Khilane Le Ja Riya Hoon (A) is about old Delhi seen through the eyes of four persons. Patru (Ravindra Sahu) is a pickpocket who later starts taking tourists on walks to show them the underbelly of Delhi city. Chhadammi (Raghubir Yadav) is a street food vendor who helps Patru in organising the walks. Akash Jain ‘Junooni’ (Lokesh Jain) is the original conductor of walks. Obviously, he doesn’t like Patru invading what he thinks is his territory. He, therefore, complains to the police who arrest Patru and Chhadammi. Lal Bihari (K. Gopalan), who is a labourer and activist of sorts, is also arrested by the police but for a different reason. He urges the workers to unite but he is arrested before that can happen.
The story is scattered and makes the film look like a documentary on old Delhi. Anamika Haksar’s screenplay is also written in such a fashion that it would appeal to only a very tiny section of the high gentry. The usual ingredients of a commercial entertainer are, of course, missing because there’s nothing by way of romance or emotions. Comedy is so little that it hardly serves the purpose. Lokesh Jain’s dialogues are ordinary but his shayri is interesting.
Ravindra Sahu does a fine job as Patru pickpocket. Raghubir Yadav is very natural as Chhadammi. Lokesh Jain is effective as Akash Jain ‘Junooni’. K. Gopalan does a fair job as Lal Bihari. Prasanjeet hardly gets scope as the trainee pickpocket.
Anamika Haksar’s direction will appeal to what one knows as festival circuit audience. Tyrax Ventura’s music and background score are barely passable. Piyush Mishra and Shellee’s lyrics are alright. Saumyananda Sahi’s camerawork is good. The shooting of candid shots is excellent. Archana Shastri’s production designing, and Manish Kansara’s art direction are in synch with the drama. Soumitra Ranade’s special effects and animation are good. The sound designing is excellent. Paresh Kamdar’s editing is fairly sharp.
On the whole, Ghode Ko Jalebi Khilane Le Ja Riya Hoon is a flop show because it is a film for the festival circuit and hence not meant for the regular audience.
Released on 10-6-’22 at Cinemax Sion (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Platoon Distribution. Publicity & opening: horrifyingly poor. …….Also released in Delhi and Rajasthan.